If you want to leave your presence in Japan forever, join this tour.

Begin your tour at Yamato-Saidaiji Station and travel by van to Yakushiji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Nara. Experience O-shakyo, the meditative art of sutra copying. By carefully tracing each Buddhist character with a brush, calm your mind and find inner peace.

Dedicate your completed sutra to the temple, where it will be preserved for centuries as a record of your prayers. “Shakyo” refers to the traditional Buddhist practice of hand-copying sacred scriptures, known as sutras. At Yakushiji Temple, O-shakyo is a form of prayer and meditation. Its purpose is to preserve people's precious wishes and pass them down to future generations—even 1,000 or 2,000 years from now.

Trace the “Heart Sutra” as a concise, shorter version of it onto special paper. Before starting, cleanse your mind through a brief ritual or prayer. All necessary tools, such as brushes and ink, are provided at the O-shakyo Dojo. Once completed, offer the sutra to the temple. It is placed before the main deity, Yakushi Nyorai (the Medicine Buddha), and kept for eternal memorial services.

Next, head to a traditional Japanese sweets shop to take a break, where a historic Japanese confectionery store. Established in 1585, it is considered the oldest pastry shop in Nara Prefecture, with a history spanning over 440 years. Their signature product is 'Oshiro-no-kuchi Mochi.' It is a bite-sized sweet made of soft mochi filled with mashed red bean paste and dusted with toasted soya bean flour (kinako).

Legend has it that Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of Japan's most famous warlords, loved this sweet so much that he named it himself when he visited Koriyama Castle. The main shop retains its traditional atmosphere from the Edo period. Inside, see ancient wooden moulds used for making sweets displayed on the walls and ceiling.

Finally, experience traditional Japanese indigo dyeing in Yamatokoriyama city. Yamatokoriyama has been a hub for 'Aizome' (Japanese indigo dyeing) since the 16th century. The city’s 'Konyamachi' district was originally established as a specialised town for dyers serving the Koriyama Castle.

Experience indigo dyeing at a museum and workshop housed in a beautifully preserved dyer's residence from the Edo period. It still features the original 'indigo vats'—deep jars buried in the floor used for the fermentation process. Try 'Shibori-zome' (tie-dyeing) here. Create patterns by tying a scarf with rubber bands or wooden blocks before dipping it into the dark blue dye. The magic happens when you pull the fabric out: the greenish liquid turns into a brilliant 'Japan Blue' as it reacts with the oxygen in the air.